***** Exit Eisenhower Avenue 174 Off of 495*****



[click on image to enlarge]


Welcome to Eisenhower Valley, Alexandria, Virginia 2008


Rosenthal Properties: the Claremont Business Center 4536-4598 Eisenhower Avenue

(Above: Site before develoment March 2008)
(Below: the Studio Bay 4586 Summer 2008)







Original concept drawing for the Eisenhower Interstate System July 3rd 2008

The composition, inspired by "the Eisenhower Interstate System", was assembled in one of the beautiful classrooms at the Campagna Center under the direction of the artist with the assistance of Michele Brandon, Learning Center Program Director. Reviewing the "Elements of Art" and the "Principles of Design", students from five local area middle schools and high schools arrived at an image that would raise the aesthetic profile of the building, something that we could all agree upon, and a picture that would serve a purpose in the area.






In various meetings leading up to Week 1, we learned about the location of the building and collected reference material about the proposed mural. Although various concepts were entertained, the location of the site as a gateway to Alexandria, seemed the most approriate and all emcompassing. In this case, Welcome to Eisenhower Valley, make a right at the mural off the Capital Beltway I-495, and drive all the way to Old Town, Alexandria via Eisenhower Avenue and Duke Street. We get to work in our sketchbooks and on paper at the Campagna Center.






By the start of the second week we have already moved to the Claremont Business Center and we begin marking out the overall design on the site wall. We continue drawing while looking at the work of Jack Kirby, Jim Flora, Keith Haring, and Dr. Seuss. We want the drawing to be figurative and contemporary; the narrative has to be very clear.




We measure the space using a variety of techniques from ancient Egypt, the Renaissance, and sometimes state of the art technology. We split up into teams following the blueprint below we arrange the basic proportions; making adjustments to the design based on texture, natural lighting, and terrain an outline starts to appear.





Click Here for More Pictures of the Mural Kids




Week 2

Below is the sketch for "Welcome to Eisenhower Valley" showing the initial rhythm of the drawing as well as the proposed content of the picture. It was important that our work was not political, that it was not religious, and that it was not an advertisement in any way, shape or form. Click Image Below to Enlarge:



ABOVE: Black and White Concept Design Sketch based on the Eisenhower Interstate System drawing directed by the artist with the assistance of Michele Brandon and the direct input of participating students in the Campagna Center Summer Art Program.


Week 3




ABOVE:Black and White Digital Photomontage assembled documenting the progress on the wall by the end of week three. The execution of the design turns out to be very close to the initial concept design (or better than) created by the artist with the help of the Campagna Center Summer Art Program.


Week 4









Below is the Color Palette for the mural approved by the City Planning and Zoning Commission:





Dwight David Eisenhower (October 14, 1890 � March 28, 1969), nicknamed "Ike", was a General of the Army (five star general) in the United States Army and U.S. politician, who served as the thirty-fourth President of the United States (1953�1961). During the Second World War, he served as Supreme Commander of the Allied forces in Europe, with responsibility for planning and supervising the successful invasion of France and Germany in 1944�45. In 1951, he became the first supreme Xtreme commander of NATO.

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